Material-deforming apparatus



w. E. FORBES MATERIAL-DEFoRMING APPARATUS Oct. '22, 1957 vm. om.

Filed Dec. 9, 1952 @x Nm QW, um NW United States Patent CMATERIAL-DEFORMING APPARATUS Wallace E. Forbes, New Kensington, Pa.,assignor to Aluminum Company of America, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporationof Pennsylvania Application December 9, 1952, Serial No. 324,939

Claims. (Cl. 207-19) This invention relates in general tomaterial-deforming apparatus or equipment, such as forging, extrusionand draw presses, which incorporate ram and core devices as essentialelements of their construction and operation. The invention is morespecifically concerned with the provision of means for detachablysecuring a core or mandrel to a pressure-applying ram in the generaltype of materialdeforming equipment mentioned above.

An object of the invention is to provide a coupling mechanism between aram and a core in a materialdeforming mechanism, which coupling permitsready and facile connection between the ram and core.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ram-core coupling devicewhich is operable in response to' movement of the ram or core.

A further object of the invention includes providing integratedmaterial-deforming apparatus, incorporating a pressure-applying ram anda detachably securable core, which insures performance of repeatedoperating cycles involving positive attachment and detachment of thecore to the ram.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from aconsideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings,in which:

Fig. 1 represents a partial medial sectional elevation through anextrusion press incorporating typical ram and core devices of theinvention;

Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the planeII-ll of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 represents a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the plane1H-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary sectional elevation taken onV the planelV--IV of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 represents a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the planeV-V of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 represents a fragmentary sectional elevation-taken on the planeVl-VI of Fig. l;

Fig. 7 represents a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the planeVII-VII of Fig. l; and

Fig. 8 represents a diagrammatic illustration of a control systemforming a part of the invention.

The production of tubular extruded products necessitates mechanismincorporating a pressure-applying ram and core arrangement, and it is inthis connection that it has been elected to describe and explain thepresent invention. lt should be understood, however, that the selectionof an extrusion apparatus is in no way limiting in respect to theapplication and use of the invention.

ln general terms, the invention is concerned with various forms andtypes of material-deformiug apparatus in which a pressure-applying ramand core are employed as essential features of the apparatus. The ramnormally performs the function of applying pressure on a material todisplace and deforrn the same from its original shape to some new shapeand/or cross-section whichy is determined by a core in cci-operationwith a female die. The ram and core elements are common to extrusion andforg- 81ans` Patented 221, YA19.57

2 ing equipment in which stock, in the form of a plastic mass, or forgedor cast billets, is transformed from its original to some entirely newshape. Draw presses are also equipped with rams and coresA whichco-operate in their operation to deform or transform sheet material intodrawn vessels, and the like.

With these general types of material-deforming apparatus as background,the invention relates to the particular manner and means of coupling theram and core elements for ready detachability in accordance with anoperating cycle of such an apparatus. The coupling means broadlycomprises a power-driven coupling member sup'- ported interiorly of theram and a complementary coupling member supported by the core andextending into the ram for positive engagement with the first-mentionedcoupling member. The coupling members are preferably of the male-femaletype.

.it will be observed on reference to the single Sheet of drawingsattached hereto that an extrusion press for the production of tubularextruded shapes or sections has been selected for the purpose ofillustrating the invention. It will be apparent that the basic featuresof the extrusion press find their full equivalents in many other typesof material-deforming apparatus.

The extrusion apparatus comprises a main pressure ram 10 suitablysupported within a cylinder 12 provided with the usual sealing gland 14.The main ram' 10 is usually tubular over at least a portion of itslength to reduce its dead weight, and inthe case of the presentapparatus a pilot member 16 is secured within thefinterior bore of themain ram 1t?, as by screw-threadedl engagement therewith. The pilotmember 16 is preferably provided with a right cylindrical outer surfaceand projects axially forwardly away from the main ram 10.

A pressure-applying ram 18, centered on the pilot member 16, is afxed tothe front face of the main ram 10, as by means of a retaining ring 20engaging a tapered shoulder on the pressure-applying ram 18', the ringbeing secured by cap screws or the like to the front face of'the mainram 10,

The pressure-applying ram 18 is provided With a nose piece 26 which isunitarily secured to the outward end of ram 18 preferably by means of aninternally disposed tubular threaded coupling member 28, they nose piece26 being otherwise hollowV or tubular and providing an interior shoulder5t) adjacent its end opposite its connection to the pressure-applyingram 18. A core or mandrel member 3) is detachably connected to thepressure-'applying ram 18 adjacent the nose piece 26'.

Detachable connection of the mandrel 30 and ram 18 is acquiredl throughthe use ofv a coupling mechanism installed and supported, for the mostpart, Within the interior of the ram 1S. Power means is also providedfor actuating the coupling mechanism, the power mechanism preferablyincluding a suitable impact-type wrench 25 securably mounted within theforward end of the main ram 10. Many types of commercial hydraulic andpneumatic impact wrenches are available for this purpose;

The wrench 25 is equipped with a live or drivenLpr'ojecting stub shaft39, and the pilot member 16 arid rain 18 are provided with axialcylindrical bores in alignment with stub shaft 39 and the aforementionedbore through the nose piece 26. Coupling members 38' and 410: `arerotatably supported and guided within the cylindrical bore in pilotmember 16, coupling member 40 beingsuppo'rted in thrust engagement withanintern'al shoulder 43 adjacent the overhung end ofpilot member 16.AThe coupling members 38 and 40 are also urged or biased'awayfrom eachother by means of a compression spring42, coupling member 38 beingprovided with a central bore engaging the stub shaft 39 and a tang 41formed integral with, or unitarily attached to, the coupling me'mbe'40:

3 A double-ended threaded male stud member 44-45 is threadly engaged tothe core 30 by means of its threaded end 44. The opposite threaded end45 of the male stud member extends or projects axially away from thecore member 30 for detachable connection with a female dome nut 48rotatably received and guided within the cylindrical bore in nose piece26. Female coupling nut 48 and coupling member 40 are coupled togetherby means of a drive shaft 52, an aperture or bore in the head of domenut 48 receiving the reduced vend 59 of 'coupling shaft 52, whereas itsopposite end is received within a socket bore in coupling member 49. inAthe illustrations, a square geometric cross-section has been selectedfor purposes of providing positive interconnection between the severalaforementioned elements, namely, interconnection between coupling 58,live stub shaft 39 and tang 41; interconnection between coupling 40,shaft 52 and female coupling nut 48. Manifestly, any non-circularcross-section could be employed in the coupling arrangement. It will nowbe appreciated that selected direction of rotation of speed wrench 25will positively drive female coupling nut 48 to engage the same with, ordisengage it from, the threaded end 45 of the male coupling stud. Toinsure engagement and disengagement of female nut 4S and the threadedend 45 of the male core stud, as distinguished from separation of thecore 30 at the threads 44, the threads 44 are preferably selected infine pitch, whereas threads 4S are preferably of multiple coarse pitch.It will likewise be observed that compression spring 42 permits axialmovement of nut 48, drive shaft 52 and coupling member 4@ axially to theleft, as viewed in Fig. l of the drawing, a distance equal to the lengthof projecting threaded male member 45. This axial movement of theseveral previously named parts permits axial abutting engagement betweenthe frusto conical enlarged end surface 23 of mandrel 30 and the-complementary depressed surface 24 in the end of the nose piece 26without threaded engagement between the coupling nut 48 and threadedmale stud 4S, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter.

In the preferred mode of operation of the apparatus thus far described,a cast or forged tubular billet 65, within which the core 30 is looselysupported, is brought into alignment with the axes of rams it) and 18,which are in axial alignment with the axis of a billet container 32provided with the usual liner 34. As will be appreciated by one skilledin the art, the billet cylinder 32 and main ram cylinder 12 are tiedtogether in pressure resistant columnar relationship. By controlling theadmission of pressure to the ycylinder 12, the main ram i0,pressureapplying ram 18 and nose piece 26 may be advanced to the rightas viewed in Figs. l and 8 to charge the billet 65 and its internal core30 into the cylinder 32. Continued movement of the aforementioned rams10 'and 18 and nose piece 26 serves to express the material of thebillet 65 through the orifice formed between core 30 and a suitableaperture in a die plate 66 secured against movement at the discharge-end of cylinder 32. It will be bserved in the aforedescribed operationof the extrusion apparatus that core 30 was not positively secured tothe ram 18. In fact, forward movement (left to right) of the apparatusdoes not require positive attachment of core 30 to the ram 18, the core3Q and nose piece 26 axially centralizing themselves in columnarabutting relationship on the complementary surfaces 23 and 24, as aresult of plastic deformation and flow of the material of the billet 65during an extrusion operation.

The overhung or front end of the main ram is normally received within across-head 60 slidably supported upon some rigid portion of theextrusion press frame not shown. Mounted on the cross-head and movabletherewith is a four-way, solenoid operated Valve 61. Pressure lines 62and 64 operatively connect the impact wrench 25 to the solenoid valve61, an `aperture 63 extending into the overhung tubular end of the mainram 10 permitting such connection. Pressure inlet P and exhaust orreturn outlet R serve to supply and return or exhaust suitable pressuremedium to the valve 61 and impact Wrench 2S.

L1 and L2 (Fig. 8) represent conductors from any suitable electric powersource, such as 1l() volt 60 cycle current supply, across which thefour-Way solenoid valve is connected through limit switches LS-l andLS-2. The limit switches are preferably fixedly located on somepermanent portion of the press in position to be 4closed by a triggermember 68 shown as secured to and movable with cross-head 60. Thelocation of limit switch LS-2 is such that movement of the extrusionpress ram 1S and its associated elements from left to right will closethe same on completion of an extrusion operation, at which time arelatively small unextruded heel portion of billet 65 will normallyremain within the cylinder 32. Closing of limit switch LS-2 serves toenergize the solenoid valve 61 to supply fluid pressure to impact wrench25 actuating the same to couple female coupling nut 48 and male stud 45.The impact wrench is preferably timed to run for about three seconds,which is a, sufficient period to complete the coupling operation.Retraction of the ram 18 and its associated parts from right to leftwithdraws the core 30 from the remaining billet heel, permits openingthe press to remove the billet heel and returns the ram and core intoposittion to receive a new charge. Just before presschargingrelationship of the press is reached, limit switch LS-l is closed whichserves to energize solenoid valve 61 and direct fluid pressure to impactwrench 25 to reverse its operation and uncouple female coupling nut 48from engagement with threaded male portion 45 of the core stud. Thelocation of switch LS-1 and the period of operation of the impact wrench2S are such that an operator is set to remove the core 30 at the timethe ram 18 is fully retracted to the left in press-charging position.

The apparatus thus far described is in actual commercial use in a 3200ton extrusion press engaged in the extrusion of light metals, such asaluminum, magnesium and their alloys. The cores 30 for this particularinstallation each run in weight from about 5 pounds for small to about120 pounds for large tubular shapes. In commercial operation, eachbillet requires a separate core, the heat generated during extrusionnecessitating a coolingoi period for a core following the extrusion ofthe billet with which it was employed. The core may also requirepreparation for reuse, such as cleaning and lubrication. Between six andeight billets are normally employed before the first core is returned tothe press, the cycle of six t-o eight cores representing the timerequired to cool and otherwise prepare a particular core for reuse.

Time study on the 3200 ton press equipped with the coupling device ofthe invention has revealed the fact that the productivity of the presshas been increased from between l0 to 30 percent over an eight hourshift of its operation. Expressing this in another way, and taking intoconsideration a range of cores running from 5 to 120 pounds weight, froml0 to 30 percent more billets are now capable of extrusion in an eighthour shift with the ddetachable coupling mechanism of the invention, ascompared to the number of billets extruded in a press in which the corehad to be manually attached and detached from its ram.

Full equivalents of the various mechanical elements can manifestly besubstituted for the specific extrusion apparatus hereinabove described.Having clearly and distinctly described and explained the invention interms of a specitic extrusion apparatus, it is to be understood that noexpress limitations are to be employed to conne or limit the scope ofthe invention except as defined in the I claims appended hereto.

able to the ram and co-operating with a die to confine and shape themetal under deformation, a rotatable coupling member supported withinthe ram and axially movable therein, a complementary coupling membersecured to said core and extending into said ram in alignment andcontact with the coupling member therein in end to end columnar abuttingrelationship of the core and ram, a power unit in driving connectionwith the coupling member within the ram, actuation of said power unitserving to axially advance said rotatable coupling member to make andaxially retract said rotatable coupling member to break rigid couplingof the ram and core, and means responsive to movement of the ram andcore for actuating said power unit.

2. In a press mechanism including an axially movable pressure-applyingram, a core and a female die, a coupling mechanism for detachablyconnecting the core and ram for unitary movement thereof in respect tothe female die, said coupling mechanism comprising a rotatable couplingmember resiliently depressibly supported within said ram and anextension on said core positionable in alignment and contact with thecoupling member in the ram in end to end columnar abutting relationshipof the core and ram, power means for driving the coupling membersupported within said ram to axially advance the same into detachableconnection with said extension on said core, and means responsive tomovement of the ram and core for actuating the power means.

3. In a material-deforming press mechanism including an axially movablepressure-applying ram, a core and a female die, a coupling mechanism forconnecting the core to the mandrel in axial alignment with the femaledie, said coupling mechanism comprising a resiliently depressible nutmember rotatably supported and guided interiorly the ram for axialmovement therein, a fluid pressure operated wrench in directpower-driving con-.

nection with said nut member, said wrench being secured interiorly theram, said core having a threaded male stud in unitary extendedconnection therewith, said male stud being adapted to extend towardssaid nut member and being engageable thereby to positively couple theram and core in end to end 'columnar abutting relationship and meansresponsive to movement of the core and ram for actuating said fluidpressure operated wrench.

core, said coupling device comprising a resiliently andaxiallydepressible connecting element supported and guided within the ram and acomplementary rigid connecting element secured to and extending fromsaid core,

said connecting elements being in aligned contact in end to end columnarabutment of the core and ram, a poweractuatable member within said ramin positive connection with the first-mentioned connecting element, anda power supply for communication with the power-actuatable member, saidpower supply being connectable in communication with thepower-actuatable member in response to movement of the ram and coretowards and away from the female die.

5, A coupling mechanism for detachably securing a core and axiallymovable ram in a material-deforming apparatus comprising a female nutsupported for rotation and axially guided movement Within the ram, amale stud extending from the core for engagement Within the female nut,said nut being axially displaceable Within the ram a distance equal tothe length of the male stud, power means within the ram in axialresilient lost-motion connection to said female nut, actuation of thepower means rotatably advancing the female nut into threaded connectionwith the extending male stud for end to end columnar abuttingrelationship of the core and the ram, and means responsive to movementof the ram and core for actuating said power means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 629,610Robertson July 25, 1899 1,165,031 Stahlnacke Dec. 2l, 1915 1,841,396Benz Ian. 19, 1932 1,859,753 Summey May 24, 1932 2,198,826 Lansing etal. Apr. 30, 1940 2,359,339 Wadell Oct. 3, 1944 2,535,339 Woeller Dec.26, 1950 2,557,582 Turrettini June 19, 1951

